Re: Avast or Zone Alarm using proxy server?

From: ROBERT S AMP BA Drake (robtsdrake_at_verizon.net)
Date: 02/21/05 

Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 13:58:45 GMT

ZoneAlarm has asked permission to go out on two occasions for me that were
unknown programs. Symantec research identified them as viruses and I was
able to kill them off. They both came through the browser. That alone
gives ZA an advantage over MS FW - IMO
"Martin" <vk2umj@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:37e96lF5dd8cdU1@individual.net...
> "Gerald Vogt" <vogt@spamcop.net> wrote in message
> news:4211561c$0$975$44c9b20d@news2.asahi-net.or.jp...
>> Martin wrote:
>>> "Gerald Vogt" <vogt@spamcop.net> wrote in message
>>> news:420ffad6$0$979$44c9b20d@news2.asahi-net.or.jp...
>>>>Lars-Erik Østerud wrote:
>>> BUT, ZA still does more than Windows FW. Sorry, I have to agree with
>>> Lars-Erik here.. I have previously used Windows SP2 Firewall only and
>>> still encountered problems with things getting in, odd programs
>>> accessing the 'net, etc. Switching to ZA Pro solved all that and more.
>>> I know you
>>
>> You already have "odd programs" on your computer. Why don't you fix that
>> problem and get rid of the "odd programs"? Wouldn't that be the right
>> approach. You seem to fix symptoms instead of fixing the cause. If you
>> have malware on your computer, it is just to late. Hoping that your ZA
>> does prevent contact to the outside for these programs is just not really
>> solving the problem.
>>
>
> But it seems that your "odd programs" would mean anything more than just
> Windows! How many people out there are happy to run only Windows, no
> extra programs, no games, nothing loaded 'just for fun', just so you can
> be 100% sure that the Windows Firewall will work OK? What planet are you
> on? I am not stupid enough to load something on that is nothing more
> that malware or spyware, but that doesn't mean that I want to allow open
> access to everything else loaded on my damn computer! Not unless *I* say
> it is OK! Unless Windows is the *only* thing loaded, it seems to me that
> the Windows Firewall is a little out of its depth...
>
> Let me see, you really want me to trust Microsoft Windows to provide a
> security solution for problems that usually result because of faults in,
> umm, well, Microsoft Windows?????? Hmm......
>
> Windows XP SP2 Firewall provides an excellent firewall for newcomers until
> they install something better. It is better than nothing at all, and for
> some 'dial up' users that do not much on the internet, maybe 5 minutes
> every few days to get mail, then I guess it is all you would need or want.
> Yes, and excellent Firewall for those people..
>
> The rest of us simply like a little more protection and extras, like
> warning if *any* mail program tries to e-mail more than (x) number of
> messages at once (i.e. like a virus may try), or warning if something new
> is trying to gain access to the internet (yes, maybe not fool proof but
> still a lot more that WFW offers)...
>
>>> can never be 100% sure of stopping everything, but ZA sems to stop more
>>> than WFW ever did...
>>
>> Again, ZA may does stop something, but it is usually not the bad guy who
>> manages it anyway.
>
> So what makes you believe that Windows Firewall would be any different?
> Let's see, how many security issues have resulted due to exploits of
> faults in Windows over the years??? It seems that almost all of our
> problems would be solved by not using Windows, but you want us to accept
> that Windows can supply the very best Firewall available??? HAHAHA!!!
>
>>
>>> I also like the fact that when setup correctly ZA lets you 'control'
>>> what programs have internet access whereas Windows FW just lets them
>>> loose!!
>>
>> Have you ever tried to circumvent it? This, too, is pretty easy to
>> circumvent depending on the firewall in place. And in particular teens
>> (as you mentioned your daughter) are extremely creative and quick to
>> learn how to do it as experiences from PCs in youth centres show.
>>
>> Gerald
>
> Well, like anything these days it is impossible to stop everything, isn't
> it. A burglar alarm only makes noise, and deadlocks only means a burglar
> will find another way in. A combination of measures helps to prevent
> problems, which is why I don't rely solely on ZA to provide all my
> security, but it is also why I would NOT rely solely on Windows Firewall
> to provide firewall services!
>
> Let us agree to disagree, shall we? No doubt everyone has their own
> beliefs and preferences......
>
>
>
>

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